2. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness Romans 6:1 - 8:21 Three Questions Asked/Answered: 1. If we Continue in Sin, will God’s Grace abound even more? 2. Is Freedom from Sin also Freedom from the Law? 3. How do I resolved the struggle between the desires of My Flesh and My Mind?

3. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Due to my mix-up, chp.6 was covered this morning.  But it is necessary for the continuity of this lesson. So here are is a brief overview of chp.6….

4. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Chp.6: The Answer to the question, If we continue to sin will God’s grace abound even more? “No,” because: if we are in Christ, we are dead to sin, vv.1-2 So do we become dead to sin? >by baptism into His death, v.3 >by baptism into death & newness of life, v.4 >by crucifixion of old self in baptism, vv.6-10 >by refusing to be mastered by sin, vv.11-23. Now then, the next question becomes….

5. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Chp.7: Is freedom from sin then also freedom from the Law? “Yes,” as illustrated by the widow: (vv.1-6) >the law has jurisdiction only to the living, v.1 >likewise, a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, v.2 >if she is joined to another while her husband lives, she is an adulteress, v.3a >but if her husband dies, she is free from the law and can be joined to another, v.3b

6. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Chp.7: Is freedom from sin then also freedom from the Law? So,what’s the point? v.4 “you were also made to die to the Law” through the body of Christ to be joined to another- to Him raised from the dead. v.5 While in the flesh, sinful passions aroused by the Law bore fruit for death. v.6 But now, we have been released from the Law because we died to it through the sin which it produced! So that we serve in newness of Spirit- not oldness of the letter.

7. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Chp.7: Is freedom from sin then also freedom from the Law? So, “Is the Law sin?” - What was Its Purpose? >to make man aware of his sinfulness, v.7! >the Law was not sinful, but man because of his violation of Law became sinful and as a result, died spiritually, vv.6-11. >This proves Man unholy- not the Law, v.12! Therefore, a great struggle exists within man: the will of the mind to keep the Law verses the desire of the body to fulfill its passions, vv.15-25. How is this struggle to be resolved?

8. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Chp.8: How do I resolve this struggle within me? >Emancipation from condemnation is a reality for those “in Christ”- v.1 (cf.5:1,17,19,21 > Gal.3:27) -Justification through Faith, chp.5; and have -Crucified their Old Man of Sin through burial and resurrection with Christ, chp.6. >This Emancipation is also through changed Law: -from the Law of Sin & Death, v.2b -to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, v.2a! -One brought death/condemnation, cf.7:5-11 -The other brought life > righteousness, vv.4-17!

9. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Chp.8: How do I resolve this struggle within me? >The Emancipation of Jesus Christ is greatly accomplished by the Holy Spirit: -through revealing the Law of the Spirit which results in life rather than death, vv.2-17 -through the provision of Hope, vv.18-25 -through His Intercession in our behalf, vv.26-30 -through the revealed manifestation of God’s Unshakeable Love, vv.31-39!

10. Romans #4, The Attainment of Divine Righteousness  Now: 1. Have you become dead to sin that you might be joined to your new Husband, Jesus Christ? 2. Have you allowed God to emancipate you from that great struggle within through Jesus Christ? 3. Are you being led by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus? If not, why not????